The year was dominated by local elections and the return of painting oneself with clay during the Ceramics Festival, or Glina Show. These were the hottest and most frequently discussed topics.
Hurricane Fryderyk reached the city. The wind blew so strongly that it knocked over a decorative teapot on Bolesławiec’s Market Square.
After a break of several years, the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity performed in Bolesławiec. The residents of Bolesławiec collected PLN 84,000.
We also informed readers about Mateusz Celmer, a resident of Bolesławiec who is helping to develop a device for detecting breast cancer. A group of scientists from Wrocław University of Science and Technology developed an innovative, non-invasive and harmless method of diagnosing breast tumors.
February
The demolition of three chimneys at the inactive ceramic plants on the premises of Plant No. 2, formerly belonging to Zakłady Ceramiczne Bolesławiec.
Dominik K. was released from detention. The boy, raised by an alcoholic mother, attacked her and killed her partner. National media commented on the case of Dominik from Bolesławiec. His story triggered a flood of comments and divided commentators into two camps: those who blamed the mother and those who blamed the son. The fact that Dominik left detention and could stand trial while at liberty was made possible by the involvement of many people: the effective work of a team of lawyers, including attorney Wojciech Kasprzyk, bail provided by Dawid Karol Kołodziej, and a signature-gathering campaign supported by the istotne.pl portal.
March
The mayor’s awards for promoting the city were presented. Among the many awardees was Helena Smoleńska. The president of Ceramika Artystyczna – Spółdzielnia Rękodzieła Artystycznego received the Honorary Award of the Mayor of Bolesławiec for promoting the city in 2017.
Anglers from Bolesławiec considered introducing fees for entering the water reservoir in Krępnica, a reservoir in the village of Krępnica in Bolesławiec commune. It is a Polish Angling Association water reservoir covering 54 hectares, for the lease of which our anglers pay a great deal of money. When it gets warm, nearby residents—especially on weekends—come to Krępnica to swim (although this is prohibited) and barbecue. The worst thing, however, is that people who want to cool off by the water on hot days often leave a mess behind. And the anglers have to pay for waste removal—anglers who, incidentally, bought the garbage containers with their own money.
We promoted a charity campaign for Artur Szczogryn, a 36-year-old resident of Tomaszów Bolesławiecki, whose leg was amputated when he was in the eighth grade of primary school. The reason? Bone cancer. Mr. Artur, known to friends as Sztywny, had a dream: he wanted to go wild on a bicycle in the forest. Cycling is a form of therapy for Artur. He has been riding a bike for several years. On weekends, he covers long, 90-kilometer routes. Going downhill, he sometimes reaches speeds of 40 km/h. – Some people in such a situation break down and stay at home, he said in an interview with istotne.pl. – I am not one of those people. The only limitations are in your head.
May
At the beginning of May, Bolesławiec experienced a hailstorm apocalypse. The streets of our county turned into raging rivers. Flooded roads, cars, yards and buildings were the result of the storm that swept over Bolesławiec. Firefighters pumped water out of many buildings. The Bolesławiec firefighters were assisted by units from the county and neighboring counties.
In May, amid Saharan heat, Bolesławiec resident Mariusz Kozak completed IRONMAN Lanzarote (Canary Islands), one of the most difficult triathlons in the world. The athlete’s time was 13 hours and 46 minutes.
June
Two years after the cornerstone was laid, the Rhenus Logistics Center officially opened. The company boasts of its high standards. The company was actively seeking employees last year. Unfortunately, a Rhenus representative did not want to disclose the salaries offered to employees. She invited people to job interviews.
During Bolesławiec Days, disco polo bands entertained us. Concerts were held at Piłsudski Square as part of this year’s Bolesławiec Days. The Łobuzy concert drew a good crowd. Later, during the Poland–Colombia match taking place at the same time, there were few people.
Free public transport. The noticeable change is that Bolesławiec’s Municipal Transport Company no longer travels beyond the city’s administrative boundaries, for example to nearby towns, because free transport within Bolesławiec is financed with city taxpayers’ money, that is, by Bolesławiec residents—other communes do not share the costs. Nevertheless, all MZK bus passengers can use it within Bolesławiec, both residents and visitors, such as tourists.
Our Glina Show parade at the Agate Summer Festival. A mineral fair began in Lwówek Śląski. The 21st Agate Summer Festival was traditionally opened by a parade of treasure hunters, joined by residents of Bolesławiec, who invited people to Glina Show and the Ceramics Festival. Parents and children from the Jacek i Agatka non-public kindergarten took part in the parade in Lwówek. Some of the costumes for the parade were chosen and sponsored by our colleague Violetta, an interior designer.
August
The official opening of Wiadukt Plaza. As part of it, two exceptional events were held in Bolesławiec: the national qualifiers for the European Vans Shop Riot skateboarding event and the eighth round of the Grand Prix Kaczmarek Electric MTB. They were held in Bolesławiec for the first time. Mariusz Lickiewicz invited the cyclists to Bolesławiec, arguing that Bolesławiec is not only the City of Ceramics but also a city of four cycling clubs. Around five hundred cyclists came to Bolesławiec!
Glina Show: nearly 100 people covered in clay marched through the city streets. After three years without the clay parade during the Ceramics Festival, people could once again cover themselves in clay and parade to music. Many people wanted to take part in the fun. The clay pools broke popularity records. Children, both small and grown-up, happily bathed in clay. At the head of the parade was a clay-covered Muzyczne Radio car driven by DJ Maciej Wowk.
September
An Ibis hotel is being built on Rev. Jerzy Popiełuszko Square. During the May session of the Bolesławiec City Council, councilors unanimously adopted a resolution on “adopting a local spatial development plan for the area located at Rev. J. Popiełuszko Square in Bolesławiec.”
October
Local elections: Piotr Roman won in the first round. For the fourth time, we prepared a reliable poll that we were able to present to readers immediately after voting ended. For each candidate, the margin of error was below 0.9%. Our pollsters were students from I Liceum Ogólnokształcące and Zespół Szkół Ogólnokształcących i Zawodowych in Bolesławiec.
A press conference combined with an official welcome for Gracjan Kozak, a bronze medalist at the Youth Olympic Games, a resident of Kraszowice (Bolesławiec commune) and a student at “Number One,” was held in the assembly hall of I Liceum Ogólnokształcące im. Władysława Broniewskiego in Bolesławiec.
As every year, Christmas decorations were put up in the Market Square: a cup and a teapot. Their colors sparked controversy. The red color was particularly criticized, as some residents felt it did not match the Christmas green and the color of local ceramics: cobalt. The colors of the Christmas decorations that appeared in our Market Square were inspired, on the one hand, by the national colors (after all, this year marked the 100th anniversary of Poland regaining independence!) and, on the other, by our Bolesławiec gold—that is, ceramics.
The renovated Daily “Senior+” Home on Staroszkolna Street was ceremonially opened. The facility was established as part of the “Senior+” Multiannual Programme, co-financed by MRPiPS.
Gwiazdka Życzliwości: residents, invited guests, associations, volunteers and city authorities met in Bolesławiec’s Market Square to celebrate together and exchange good wishes. For the fourth year in a row, together with the Municipal Communal Services Company, we organized one of the most positive initiatives known in this city for you: a free photo in a frame bearing #Kocham Bolesławiec.
